Inshore Fisheries Management Improvement Programme: Call for evidence

Closed 18 Feb 2025

Opened 26 Nov 2024

Contact

inshore@gov.scot

Feedback updated 18 Jun 2025

We asked

We sought expertise in our call for evidence to inform the development of a new inshore fisheries management framework for Scotland. Views were sought to inform the objectives of the framework and how it should be structured, who should be involved in fisheries management and how they should be involved, and what the framework should seek to deliver.

You said

In total 100 responses were received from 52 individuals and 48 organisations. They represented views from around Scotland as well as from national respondents.

A number of key points came through during the course of analysing responses to this Call for Evidence:

  • The majority of respondents supported a regional approach to inshore fisheries management in Scotland.
  • The most common preferred delineation to be used for managing Scotland’s inshore fisheries was the Scottish Marine Region.
  • There was significant support for an improved model of co-management in Scotland, however views on what this should look like differed significantly between respondents.
  • A range of views were received about our existing Regional Inshore Fisheries Group (RIFG) network; these mirrored responses already received during our recent review of the RIFG network which have subsequently been considered and acted upon.
  • A number of respondents repeatedly outlined the value in best available data to inform decision making, the need for greater transparency, and the need for appropriate resource to support delivery of an improved inshore fisheries management model.
  • The theme of creel limits, and a need for them in the future, was prevalent in responses to a number of the questions.
  • Views were often polarised depending on the background of the respondent.

We did

We published the responses to the consultation on Citizen Space, where permission has been given to do this. We also published a consultation analysis report on the Scottish Government website.

The Scottish Government is grateful to those who took the time to provide a response to this call for evidence. The responses will be considered further by officials and will inform the development of a new inshore fisheries management framework. We will engage with stakeholders through our existing networks to develop proposals ahead of consultation in early 2026.

Published responses

View submitted responses where consent has been given to publish the response.

Overview

This call for evidence seeks input from people with expert knowledge of inshore marine fisheries in Scotland (e.g. academics, fishers, national and regional fisheries representatives, eNGOs, seafood processors, coastal communities). We anticipate input to range from papers and data to relaying of personal experience and expert opinion to inform development of this policy.

The Scottish Government’s Marine Directorate has an Inshore Fisheries Management Improvement (IFMI) Programme that presents an opportunity to develop a new framework for agile management of our inshore sea fisheries.

Our vision is that this framework will enable us to tailor a wider range of fisheries management tools to the changing needs of our marine environment and sea fishers, based on the best available scientific data.

Our Fisheries Management Strategy outlines our commitment to working with stakeholders, and this framework offers an opportunity to strengthen existing arrangements.

The IFMI programme will consider a structure that enables a greater focus on strategic decision making both regionally and nationally. It will help us to manage fishing activity within our inshore marine space, and consider how responsibility for management and delivery can be shared whilst respecting the ultimate accountability of Scottish Ministers to the Scottish Parliament and the general public.

All of the information required to respond to this call for evidence can be found here on Citizen Space. The same information can be found on the Scottish Government website.

Useful information about responding to this call for evidence

As you complete your response, each page will provide the option to 'Save and come back later' at the bottom. This means you can save your progress and return to the Call for Evidence at any time before it closes. If you don't use this feature and leave the Call for Evidence midway through, your response will be lost.

Once you have submitted your response, you can enter your email address to get a pdf copy of your answers sent to you.

On the 'About You' page at the end of this consultation, organisations will have the opportunity to tell us more about their work and/or how their response was informed.

After the Call for Evidence has closed there will be a few months delay before any responses are published. This is because we must check any responses to be published abide by our Terms of Use.

A analysis report will usually be published some months after the Call for Evidence has closed. This report will summarise the findings based on all responses submitted. It will be published on the Scottish Government website and you may be notified about it if you choose to share your email address with us. You can also join our mailing list where we regularly list newly published analysis reports (as well as new consultations and Calls for Evidence).

Why your views matter

Following this call for evidence, Scottish Ministers have committed to consulting on the IFMI framework in late 2025. Through this call for evidence your experience of Scotland’s inshore fisheries will inform the development of the IFMI policy proposal ahead of this consultation.

Wherever possible, please submit evidence to support your answer.

This Call for Evidence is open for a 10 week period.

The responses received will be instrumental in enabling us to develop a framework more fully based on the received evidence after it closes. We will engage with stakeholders to refine the proposal and consider implementation and monitoring before bringing it to public consultation to receive views on a final proposal. Following consideration of consultation responses, we expect to begin implementation in late 2026.

Interests

  • Marine and Fisheries
  • Main hub